Police Officer Trainee (Entry Level)

City of Lodi; Lodi (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Lodi Police Department is accepting applications for an entry-level Police Officer Trainee. This non-sworn training position will join the Basic Peace Officer Academy, paid for by the City, with the eventual appointment as a Police Officer after graduation.

Applicants must pass physical agility and POST PELLET-B examinations, and meet health, age, and license requirements to be considered.

Qualifications

• High school graduation or equivalent.
• Must possess a valid California driver’s license by date of appointment.
• Must be at least 21 years old at the date of appointment.
• Must be in excellent health and pass a comprehensive medical examination.
• Attend and complete the POST PELLET-B written examination and physical agility test.

Responsibilities

• Learn duties, responsibilities, and skills under supervision and in the Field Training Program.
• Attend and successfully complete a police academy to prepare for the position.
• Support law enforcement and crime prevention activities and community-based policing.

Skills

Knowledge of English usage

Ability to learn maps and mapped info

Education

High school graduation or equivalent

Job description

The City of Lodi Police Department is accepting applications for entry-level Police Officer Trainee. If you are looking for an exciting career in law enforcement, we invite you to apply for this opportunity to join the Lodi Police Department. To learn more about the City of Lodi Police Department click here.

The City of Lodi Police Department will conduct the Physical Agility Test and the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) written examination on the same day, Saturday, September 26, 2026.

The Physical Agility Test will be conducted at Lawrence Park - Canine Training Facility, located at 350 N. Washington St., Lodi, CA 95240.

The PELLETB test location: TBD

Information on the POST PELLET-B examination and Physical Agility Test can be found at: https://post.ca.gov/LE-Entry-Level-Test-Battery-Applicant-FAQs

The Physical Agility Test consists of 4 components: a 99-yard obstacle course; a 165-pound body drag; a 6' wall climb; and a 500-yard run. These are timed events and successful applicants must complete all components of the test within the prescribed time period. This is an entry-level, non-sworn training position in the Police Department. Incumbents are assigned to the Basic Peace Officer Academy, paid for by the City of Lodi Police Department, and incumbents must satisfactorily pass all of the requirements that lead to the possession of the Basic Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Certificate. After graduation from the academy, the incumbent will be appointed as a sworn Police Officer under the supervision and control of a Police Corporal while in the Field Training Program.

Failure to successfully complete the police academy will result in termination from employment.

Application Submittal: This recruitment will close on Monday, September 14, 2026.

Physical Agility Testing: Qualified applicants will be invited to the physical agility testing portion of the examination on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Applicants must participate and pass the physical agility test in order to be invited to the written examination. The physical agility test consists of a 99-yard obstacle course, a 165-pound body drag, a 6' wall climb, and a 500-yard run. These are timed events and successful applicants must complete all components of the test within the prescribed time period.

Written Examination (POST PELLETB): Applicants who pass the Physical Agility Test will be invited to participate in the written PELLETB examination, later in the day, Saturday, September 26, 2026. Applicants who possess a T-Score of 42.0 or higher, obtained from another California Law Enforcement agency/academy in the past 12 months may submit that T-Score in lieu of taking the written examination. Applicants must obtain a T-Score of 42.0 or higher to be considered for the Police Officer Trainee (Entry Level) position.

Applicants may obtain additional information, including a guide for preparing for the written examination on the California Peace Officers and Standards Testing (POST) website: https://post.ca.gov/Peace-Officer-Candidate-Selection-Standards

Note: Applicants are precluded from taking the POST PELLETB examination more than once every 30 days.

Under close supervision and direction of instructors or Field Training Officers, will learn duties, responsibilities, and skills to perform law enforcement and crime prevention work, including community-based policing practices.

This position is an entry level, non-sworn position in the Police Department. Incumbents are assigned to the Basic Peace Officer Academy and must satisfactorily pass all of the requirements that lead to the possession of the Basic Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Certificate. After graduation from such an academy the incumbent will be appointed as a Police Officer under the supervision and control of a Police Corporal while in the Field Training Program. If incumbents do not successfully complete a police academy, they will be terminated.

Attend and successfully complete a police academy to prepare for the position of Police Officer.

Knowledge of:

• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; Writing clearly, accurately, concisely, legibly, and with correct grammatical construction and spelling;
• Observing, assimilating, remembering, and recalling pertinent facts and details; Ability to learn to read maps and mapped information.

Ability to:

• Interpret laws, rules and other written materials;
• Learn and apply laws relating to apprehension, arrest, and custody;
• Judge situations and personalities, and to think and act quickly in emergencies;
• Understand and follow oral and written directions;
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Education and Experience

Experience:

None required.

Education:

High school graduation or equivalent.

Requirements

License:

Possession of a valid Driver's License issued from the California Department of Motor Vehicles by date of appointment.

Age:

Must be at least 21 years at the date of appointment.

Physical:

Must be in excellent general health and physical condition. Ability to pass a comprehensive medical examination administered by the city.

Hearing:

Normal in each ear.

Vision:

20/100 correctable to 20/30; normal color perception.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and with explosives and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration. The employee may have exposure to blood borne pathogens, possible fights and confrontations, and contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

*FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Telephone: [phone]. Persons with hearing impairment, please call the California Relay Service 7-1-1.

Evaluation of Qualifications: Application materials and resumes will be screened to determine if applicants are considered to be among the most qualified as outlined on the job announcement. Only applicants who are among the most qualified will be invited to participate in the testing process. Resumes may not be substituted for a completed application.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER - The City of Lodi is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of fair employment practices regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex or sexual orientation, marital status, age, mental or physical disability or perceived disability, medical condition, pregnancy, political affiliation or belief, or other unlawful discrimination.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT - In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the City of Lodi provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations must contact the Human Resources Division upon application submittal to confirm the request.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION - City of Lodi is authorized and required by the state of California to access Local, State, and/or Federal criminal history as part of the testing process. This process can be completed by initial fingerprinting and/or a full Background investigation pursuant to Penal Code §11105(b)(10), §11105.3, §13300(b)(10); Education Code §10911.5; Public Resources Code §5164) and in compliance with the City of Lodi's Fingerprinting Policy and Procedure. As a future employee or volunteer, you are required to fingerprint and processed through the Department of Justice and cleared before you can start. All information obtained will be kept in strict confidentiality.

HIRING PROCEDURE - Applicants must possess the minimum qualifications by the final filing date. Eligible lists are established upon successful completion of the selection process. The candidates must be successful in each part of the testing. To fill each vacancy the hiring department will request names to be certified from the eligible list and will make a selection from this certification list.

CONDITIONAL JOB OFFERS - Conditional job offers are subject to successful completion of a medical drug screen and/or physical. Candidates should not quit or give notice to their current employer until final notification has been awarded by the Human Resources Division.

MEDICAL-DRUG SCREENING – All positions may be subject to a physical or drug screen issued by a qualified medical physician assigned by the Human Resources Division. Under the requirements of the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, the City of Lodi has been designated as a drug-free workplace.

APPOINTMENT - At the time of appointment all candidates will be required to execute an oath of allegiance and complete Form I-9 - Employment Eligibility Verification in compliance with the Immigration and Naturalization Act. United States citizenship is not required. All new appointees are required to successfully complete a probationary period of twelve months.